Pickup mechanism



May 2, 1944.

| A. PARADISE ,ET 1. 2,347,926

'PICK-UP MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 O INVENTORS Louis-Av Paradisgdames M lrwin'cr Floyd R. Martin TTORNEY5 I a May 2, 1944. 1.. A. PARADISE ET AL PICK-UP MECHANISM -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1941 IINVENTORS Liylis ganglia; James l [min d- O'j 0| "1 3 A A 4% I A TORNEYS Patented May 2, 1944 Louis A Paradise: and J ames v V; Irwin, Molina, andaliioyd R. Malitin, East Moline,,,l ll.,rassignors tion of Illinois to Deere; $2 Comp Mo na, Ill a. c pora Applicationflecember 19, 1941, Serial No; 423,648 6-Qlaims., (c 56-364) The present invention relates; generally toipi'ckup mechanisms for travelling harvesters such as combines and, the like and more particularly to grain pick-ups comprising a flexible belt, which travels between fore and aft spaced rollers and is provided with crop-engaging fingers adapted to lightly brush the ground as they pass around the lower roller, and is in'. the nature of an improvement over Patent No; 2,253,797, granted August 26, 1941', to Melroe. This patent discloses a pick-up device in which the teeth are fastened directly to the belt and are ofsu'ch'flexibility that as they brush the ground, they are incapable of dislod'ging small rocks andstones of the size of at Walnut or larger, and therefore do not have a tendency to kick the'stones'forwardl'y onto the windrow' where they arepicked up with the harvested material and taken into the. crop treating machine, as in some earlier types of pick-up mechanisms. In case any sizeable stones do happen to lodge upon the belt, theyv are. free. to roll forwardly Over the front end. of the belt, since there are no transverse slats on top of the belt which might engage and carry the stories into the combine.

Since the, belt is driven by the upper roller throughirictional contact with thebelt'there is some tendency for the beltjto'slipwhenoperating under extremely difficult. conditions; and therefore it" is the principal object of thepresentin vention to provide a positive drivefor the pick up belt. In the accomplishment" of this object, we have contemplated theuse of a pair-oflaterally spaced drive chains operating over fore and aft. spaced sprockets and connected to the belt by means of transverse slats; which are con"- nected at their opposite ends to" the two chains. We are aware, however, that the use of" drive chains with transverse slats for driving a belt pick-up or conveyor is notbroadly new; but as far as we are aware, the slats havealwaysbeen attached to the belt on the outer surface thereof, with the crop-engaging fingers fastened to' the outer sides of the slats: The" great" objection to these prior devices, however, was that" these exposed slats carried rocks and stones into the combine, and in certain, parts of the country the farmers. have had a great deal of difficulty because of cylinder breakage'causedby stones'being carried into thecylind'er ofithe combine; It was due tolthese diffi'culties, that the pick-up device disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, was developed.

It is aumoreparticular. objectojfj our invention, therefore, to provide a belt type 'pick' up having Cal a positive chain drive, but without any slats disposed in such position that they can convey stones into the combine; In' the accomplishment,

of this object, we have provided" a belt type pickup conveyor, in which the belt or apron is positioned between the slats and' the fingers. In this arrangement, the slats are not in' a position in which they can engage rocks and stones, and yet this construction permits the advantages of" the slats for driving purposes. This construction also permits the use of a' much lighter belt or apronsince all of" the driving power istransmitted through the chains andv slats uniformly to the belt, and sincethe' crop engaging fingers can now be supported on the slats instead ofbeing independently fixedf to the belt, the latter can be fabricated of canvas of" the usual weight employed' in platform conveyors; or even lighter weight. By providing a slight amount ofsla-cl: between each pair of adjacent slats; all driving tension, is relieved from thecanvas and taken by the chains and slats.

A further objectof' our invention relates to the provision of a novel and improved-- means for securing the fingermem'bers to the endless belt.

Still another object has to do with: the provision of means for mounting a'pick-updevice on a harvester platform whereby-thepic'k-up'is'free to float along the ground on ground engaging skids, wheels or the like, but with provision for adjustably limiting the extent or downward movement duringoperation; A related object is to provide for swinging the pick-up frame upwardly'to an over-center-transportposition above the harvester platform; Stop means are provided for holding the device out of contact with the platform.

These and other'objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent t'o' those'sk-illed in the art after a'consideration of'the following descrip- 'tion, taken in conjunction with the drawings appended hereto; in which Figural is a'plan view of a pick-upmechani'sm embodying the principles of my invention, certain parts'beingbrok'en awayand shown insection to more clearly disclose the details of con- 'struction;-

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan viewof: one-of the spring; finger" members.

Referring now tothe drawings,- the: pick up veyor sections.

'members 8, each of which includes a vertical side wall 9 and an outwardly turned upper flange |0. Carried'on the, frame 6 is'an endless type conveyor ll; trained over a pair 'of transversely disposed, front and rear supporting rollers |2, .|3.

The rear supporting roller l3 comprises "a I tubular shaft on which are fixed a plurality of laterally spaced sprockets 2|, each of which has a supporting hub 22 throughwhich the tubular shaft 20 extends and isfixed-thereto by means of a bolt or rivet 23'toprevent turning of the hub 22 on the shaft 20. One end of the tubular shaft 20 is rigidly fixed to a stub shaft sides of the channel-shaped slats 52 and is securely fastened between each of the slats and its associated lugs 5|, by the rivets 53 which pass through suitable apertures provided in the canvas, slats, and lugs. Each of the aprons, of which there are three in number in this embodiment, is substantially coextensive with the length of the slats in the respective section, the two edges of each belt or apron being adjacent the inner sides of each pair of adjacent chains, as indicated in Figure 1.

A row of spring finger members 56 is attached to each one of the slats. As disclosed in the Melroe patent, each finger member 56 is made out of a single piece of wire of about No. 14 gauge, eachgmember comprising a pair of parallel tines or fingers 51 terminating in spring coils V 58 connected by a loop 59, as best shown in Fig- 24, journaled in a bearing 25, which is suitably f fixed to the web 9 of the side frame member 8. The stub shaft 24 is retained within the bearing 25 by a collar 26 secured to the outer end of the shaft 24 by aset screw 21.

The opposite end of the rear roller I3 is supported on a drive shaft 30, which is carried in v a bearing 3|,any end thrust being taken by a collar 32, fixed to the shaft by means of a set screw 33. The two bearings 25, 3| are supported on a pairof generally vertical legs 35, which are rigidly carried on the frame 36 of the harvester platform. Each of the bearings 25, 3| is provided with an annular flange 31, which is secured to the leg by means of a suitable clip 38.

The forward roller |2 comprises a similar tubular shaft 20 on which the sprockets 2| are supported, each. end of the tubular shaft 20 being rigidly carried on a stub shaft 40, which is joumaled in a bearing member 4|, the latter being slidably disposed within a slot 42 in the side 9 of the frame member 8 Each of the bearings is urged forwardly in the slot by means of a coiled compression spring'43 acting against the side of the bearing 4| and reacting against a, clip 44 fixed to the side wall 9. A bolt 45 extends from the bearing 4| through the center of the coil spring 43and through a suitable aperture in the clip 44, and is secured by nuts 46 on the rear side of the clip. By means of the spring 43 the tension in .thefendless conveyor is maintained substantially constant.

Trained over each pair of fore and aft aligned sprockets 2| is an endless drive chain 50, each chain comprising a series of interconnected links, each of which'is provided with a lug 5| extending laterally therefrom. As will be noted in Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of this invention employs four drive chains 50, spaced laterally at equal distances to provide three con- The two inner chains 50 have their lugs 5| extending laterally in alternate direction s, while the outer chains .are provided' with a lug 5| on every other link. 'The lug 5| on adjacent chains are transversely aligned, and each pair of opposed, aligned lugs 5| is interconnected by a. transversely disposed slat 52. Each of the slats 52, in-this embodiment. is in the form of a metal channel, and is fixed at opposite ends thereof, respectively, to the aligned lugs by means of suitable rivets 53. The channel-shaped slats are positioned with their flanges extending inwardly of the endless chains. The slats are positioned against the inner surfaces of the lugs 5|.

An endless belt orapron .55, preferably made of canvas or the like, extends around the outer ure 4. Each member is secured to the conveyor by means of a clip 6|] made of sheet metal and having acentral bolting section 6|, which is suitably 'apertured to receive a bolt 62, which extends through aligned apertures in the slats 52 and the canvas apron 55. The clip is placed on top of. the belt 55 over the spring finger member 56 and is fastened thereto by means of a nut 63 and lock washer 64. The clip has a pair of laterally extending wings 65 which project through the coil springs 58, and a longitudinally extending body portion 66, which extends over the loop, 59 and has'a pair of downwardly turning flanges 61, which rest on the belt at each sideof the loop. A plurality of pointed teeth 66 around the end of the bolting section 6|, are forced into the belt when the nut 63 is tightened.

During operation, the pick-up device is carried-on the lugs 35 and inclines forwardly and downwardly from the supporting shafts 24, 3D, the forward end of the frame being supported on a p'air'of curved skids l0, fixed to a pair of fore andaft spaced brackets 1|, 72, respectively, each of which is slotted as at 13 to receive bolts 14 by which the brackets are secured to the frame. When the bolts 14 are loosened the skids can be moved up or down relative to the frameand thus control the amount of pressure. exerted by the spring fingers 51 as they brushthe ground ahead of the platform. 1 The lower extent of floating movement of the frame. is ad'justably determined by a pair of stopibolts 15, one on each side of the frame 6, supported in a plate 16, which is welded to'an arm-11, the'latter being bolted to the adjacent support 35. The bolt 15 is adjustably fixed in position by a pair of lock nuts 18 engaging the bolt on opposite sides of. the plate 16. The end of the bolt 15 is adapted to engage a stop lug l9 fixed to the lower edge of the frame side wall 9.

For transport purposes, the pick-up can be swung to an over-center position, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. In this position, the device is held over the harvester platform '36 but out of contact therewith by engagement of the rear edge of the flange I0, which engages the rear of the support 35, on each side of the pick-up frame. i

The endless conveyor is driven by suitable means attached to the shaft 30 in a direction lift" the 'windrowed crop and transport it upwardly over the pick-up device and discharge it upon the combine platform.

It is evident that the pick-up disclosed herein retains the advantages of the flexible fingers, which do not tend to dislodge the stones from the ground and kick them onto the windrow, and also retains the advantage of the smooth apron, which permits any stones to roll downwardly off the forward end of the pick-up, but has the added advantage over the previous device of a positive chain and sprocket drive for the endless conveyor.

We claim:

1. A pick-up adapted to be attached to a traveling harvester and comprising an endless belt trained over upper and lower rollers, means for supporting said conveyor in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position with the lower end thereof in close proximity to the ground, a plurality of pick-up fingers attached to said belt, means for driving the conveyor with the upper run traveling rearwardly and the lower run traveling forwardly, said fingers being disposed to brush the ground surface as the conveyor belt passes around the lower roller, said fingers being of such degree of flexibility as to be incapable of dislcdging stones of walnut size upon the ground upon coming in contact therewith in brushing the ground surface, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slats disposed on the inner side of said belt and attached thereto.

2. A pick-up adapted to be attached to a traveling harvester and comprising a pair of relatively non-stretchable, laterally spaced, endless drive members trained over upper and lower driving and driven wheels, means for supporting said conveyor in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position with the lower end thereof in close proximity to the ground, a plurality of transversely disposed slats interconnecting said drive members, a relatively stretchable endless conveyor belt extending around the outer sides of said slats and attached thereto, and a plurality of crop engaging fingers disposed on the outer side of said belt and attached thereto.

3. A pick-up adapted to be attached to a traveling harvester and comprising a pair of relatively non-stretchable, laterally spaced, endless drive members trained over upper and lower driving and driven wheels, means for supporting said conveyor in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position with the lower end thereof in close proximity to the ground, a plurality of transversely disposed slats interconnecting said drive members, a relatively stretchable endless conveyor belt extending around the outer sides of said slats and attached thereto, a plurality of pick-up fingers attached to said belt, and means for driving the conveyor with the upper run traveling rearwardly and the lower run traveling forwardly, said fingers being disposed to brush the ground surface as the conveyor belt passes around the lower roller, said fingers being of such degree of flexibility as to be incapable of dislodging stones of walnut size upon the ground upon coming in contact therewith in brushing the ground surface.

4. In a windrow pick-up device, an endless pick-up conveyor comprising a plurality of laterally spaced drive chains, a plurality of transversely disposed slats interconnecting said chains,

a row of crop engaging fingers attached to the outer side of each slat, and a flexible apron disposed between said teeth and said slats.

5. A windrow pick-up device comprising a frame and crop engaging mechanism mounted thereon, a drive shaft for said mechanism journaled on said frame, a pair of supports in which said shaft is journaled, said supports being adapted to be fixed to a harvester platform or the like, stop meansahead of said supports for supporting said frame in an operating position forwardly of said supports but permitting the frame to move upwardly therefrom to an overcenter transport position behind said supports, and stop means on said frame engageable, with at least one of said supports for holding the frame in said transport position.

6. A windrow pick-up device comprising a frame and crop engaging mechanism mounted thereon, a drive shaft for said mechanism journaled on said frame, a pair of supports in which said shaft is journaled, said supports being adapted to be fixed to a harvester platform or the like, to carry said pick-up frame in a forwardly and downwardly inclined operating position, ground engaging means at the forward end of said frame to cause the latter to float about the axis of said drive shaft during operation, a threaded member carried on one of said supports and engageable with the frame to adjustably limit the downward movement thereof, and a fixed stop on said frame and engageable' with one of said supports when said frame is swung upwardly to an over-center transport position above the harvester platform.

LOUIS A. PARADISE. JAMES V. IRWIN. FLOYD R. MARTIN. 

